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Paul Pierce and Melissa from Everett at the recent camp at Basketball City

Hey all – so after a short hiatus I thought it was time to bring back the blogging. Fall is around the corner, school is starting, football is back – there’s a lot to talk about!

I hope you’re all having a great summer – I know I am. I just got finished coaching at my camp at Basketball City last week. It was a blast – the kids are so excited to learn. I always really appreciate watching the upcoming generation of future ballers. It’s important for the sport, and of course, I’m always sayin' how kids need to stay active to be healthy with my Truth on Health Campaign. So I thought my camp would be another great way to do that.

I remember when I was that age – staying late at practice at Inglewood High and getting as much court time as I could. You know, you don’t have to be the biggest and the best to do well in this game – it’s about heart. Some of the kids I met this week have faced a lot of obstacles, but they still showed so much dedication, which really caught my attention. I know I struggled a bit growing up, but it didn’t prevent me from getting where I’m at today, and I want kids to know that – it’s all about commitment and hard work.

The camp was full again this year and I was really happy to see that. I enjoyed meeting the kids and being part of their basketball experience, helping to shape their game and even take some on in one-on-one!

It was also fun to see the kids there who entered a contest though my website, truthonhealth.org, to win a spot at camp – and that was really cool. I got to meet Melissa M. from Everett and Nick S., who came all the way from Maine to be at my camp! They are really great kids who jumped through a lot of hoops (ha!) just to be there. I was really impressed by their dedication and love for the game.

One girl at camp told me the community ball program where she’s from was having trouble getting enough kids to show up to play a game. I thought that was a shame – it’s so important that we keep our sports programs in school and around our neighborhoods so kids can stay healthy and more importantly, have a little fun. Every child deserves that chance, and I’m just grateful I was able to give that to all the kids at Basketball City who came out last week.

Paul Pierce's Truth on Health campaign empowers and encourages young people to lead healthier lives by providing them with the information, resources, and tools necessary to become more active and physically fit. To learn more, visit www.truthonhealth.org

Follow Paul Pierce on Twitter @PaulPierce34 and @TruthonHealth and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/paulpierce

This blog is not written or edited by Boston.com or the Boston Globe.
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About the author

Paul Pierce is the captain of the Boston Celtics. Pierce has spent his entire career with the Celtics since being drafted in 1998 out of Kansas, and led them to their 17th NBA Championship in 2008, when he was the NBA Finals MVP.
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